Biden’s 2022 cancer comment comes back into focus after his diagnosis

The recent revelation of former President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis has brought renewed attention to a comment he made in 2022, where he mistakenly mentioned having cancer during a public speech.

This occurred when Biden was addressing emissions from an oil refinery close to his childhood home in Claymont, Delaware. At that moment, he stated, “That’s why I and many other people I grew up with have cancer, which is why Delaware has had the highest cancer rate in the country for the longest time.” These remarks drew eyebrows, especially his choice of the word “had.”

Former White House spokesman Andrew Bates clarified to the Washington Post that Biden’s comments were likely in reference to “non-melanoma skin cancer.”

Kessler from Fact Check noted on social media that Biden had effectively addressed this health issue in the past, stating he had removed non-melanoma skin cancer before taking office.

Dr. Kevin O’Connor, who previously served as Biden’s physician, hasn’t indicated any recurrence of cancer in recent health reports, although he noted Biden’s history with skin cancer was more likely tied to significant sun exposure during his youth, rather than chemicals from the refinery.

“It’s well-documented that President Biden spent considerable time outdoors when he was younger,” O’Connor explained in a health report from 2021, mentioning that Biden had had non-melanoma skin cancers removed.

On Sunday, Biden’s spokesperson revealed that the former president’s cancer diagnosis is quite serious, indicating it has metastasized to the bone. The spokesman noted that Biden had recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer after experiencing rising urinary symptoms.

The diagnosis is classified with a Gleason score of 9, which typically indicates an aggressive cancer type. While scores can reach up to 10, the 8-10 range suggests a form of cancer that is unlikely to be cured, although there are treatments available to slow its progression.

“It’s more aggressive, but he seems to have a hormone-sensitive kind. The president and his family are looking into treatment options with his doctor,” the spokesperson added.

The nature of Biden’s diagnosis has raised questions among health professionals about how it could have gone undetected until now. Dr. Ezekiel Emmanuel, who was part of Biden’s transition team, shared his thoughts on MSNBC, stating that Biden likely had the cancer for a longer time, possibly since the beginning of his presidency in 2021.

Others, including a physician from Yale Medical School, remarked that it is “hard to believe” that Biden’s prostate cancer wasn’t detected earlier. They pointed out that a Gleason score of 9 would have likely resulted in elevated PSA levels well before his current diagnosis.

Statistics indicate that around 13% of men will experience prostate cancer at some point in their lives. In Biden’s past, he faced the tragic loss of his eldest son, Beau, to a brain tumor and later led the Obama administration’s Cancer Moonshot Initiative.

“Cancer affects all of us. Like many, Jill and I have discovered strength in our vulnerabilities. Thank you for your love and support,” Biden expressed in a recent social media message.

This news comes at a challenging time for Biden, as controversies and discussions around his age and mental acuity arise ahead of the release of an insightful book by CNN’s Jake Tupper and Axios’ Alex Thompson.